watchOS 26 Adding a Smaller Yet Useful New Watch Face Setting

[MacRumors]

watchOS 26 is adding a new "Show Data When Locked" setting to the Apple Watch.

MacRumors contributor Steve Moser discovered the new setting within the code for the first watchOS 26 beta, and a Reddit user has seemingly found it in action, but we have yet to figure out where it is exactly. Leave a comment if you know.

The new privacy setting allows you to toggle on or off the ability to view data in the little "complications" that appear on select watch faces.

There is one exception: Apple says data from the Health app will never be visible in complications when an Apple Watch is locked, regardless of the toggle's position.

This is one of the many smaller but useful quality-of-life improvements in watchOS 26 that Apple did not announce during its WWDC 2025 keynote.

watchOS 26 will likely be released in September.

Article Link: watchOS 26 Adding a Smaller Yet Useful New Watch Face Setting

 

[FlashBIOS]

Oooh, that watch face. Is it one that I've missed? Or is it coming in watchOS 26?

 

[munpip214]

There is one exception: Apple says data from the Health app will never be visible in complications when an Apple Watch is locked, regardless of the toggle's position.

I get where they are coming from, but at the same time I really don’t care if someone sees how many calories I burned so far today. I would much rather be able to see it regardless of if I’ve unlocked. If they’ve got the setting, then just let us use it.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Oooh, that watch face. Is it one that I've missed? Or is it coming in watchOS 26?

Modular Ultra, I believe!

 

[svish]

Nice to see this change. Very small but indeed it will be useful. Looking forward to trying it out later this year once I update my Series 10.

 

[FlashBIOS]

Modular Ultra, I believe!

Bah (but thank you)! And just for the Ultra. I hope 26 brings something similar to the table for the other watches.

 

[jz0309]

My watch is always unlocked when I wear it, so how many instances are there with folks wearing their watch locked?

 

[FSMBP]

My watch is always unlocked when I wear it, so how many instances are there with folks wearing their watch locked?

I didn't see where it said when the user is wearing it...When I take off my watch for a quick shower/bath, it would be nice to see the info when it's off.

 

[jz0309]

I didn't see where it said when the user is wearing it...When I take off my watch for a quick shower/bath, it would be nice to see the info when it's off.

Agree. I wear my watch at all times except when I put it on the charger, and at that time wear my other watch.

 

[t0rqx]

Turning it on means it is able to harvest more data from your iPhone not just including Health but also other data like GPS, Device General Activity and movement.

The reason they did not announce this, is because they EU will force them to open this up.

Source: Cousin works as an engineer at Apple.

 

[TechGuy327]

I like that watch face!

 

[iea96]

I wish Modular Ultra was available on the regular Apple Watch.

 

[clg82]

"quality of life improvements" MacRumors starting to learn how to use "buzz words" that don't apply to the article at all like some of the news outlets lollllllll

 

[AlliFlowers]

My watch is always unlocked when I wear it, so how many instances are there with folks wearing their watch locked?

My mother constantly walks out the door in the morning, forgetting to unlock her watch until she tries to pay for something. Would that count?

 

[MacBeard]

My watch is always unlocked when I wear it, so how many instances are there with folks wearing their watch locked?

My mother constantly walks out the door in the morning, forgetting to unlock her watch until she tries to pay for something. Would that count?

Occasionally, if I'm in a particular rush, I'll accidentally forget to unlock my watch when I'm leaving the house, and only notice halfway to work. My mother also takes it off pretty often, like when she's cooking, and will forget to unlock it after putting it back on.

I would appreciate a feature that will vibrate/ding if it notices movement while being locked. Additionally, if it's ignored and is away from its paired iPhone, it could send a notification via Find My.